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|Personal Finance and Investing, LE
|Provides a practical understanding and valuable experience with the issues that affect the financial future of individuals. Using real-world data and examples available in the unrivaled Center for Financial Analysis, participants explore the key factors related to savings, budgeting, debt, taxes, investing, insurance, retirement planning, and more. Hands-on exercises help participants learn and develop the skills necessary to effectively manage their finances. Course is designed for all students; business and non-business students are welcome to attend. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
|Business Finance
|The Business Finance course provides insight and practice relating to the planning, organizing, and controlling functions performed by financial managers. Emphasis is on the goal of value maximization and the decisions that support this goal. Prerequisites: ACCT 213; ECON 253, 263; IRM 200; MATH 141 OR MATH 143, MATH 150. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.
|Investments and Analysis
|A survey of the organization and regulation of security markets, security analysis and valuation, and principles of portfolio management from the perspective of the individual investor. Prerequisite: FINC 300. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
|Concepts and Applications of Corporate Finance
|A case analysis approach to corporate financial management theory with special emphasis on capital budgeting, capital markets and long-term financing. Prerequisite: FINC 300. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
|Financial Institutions and Industrial Banking
|This course provides an understanding of financial institutions and their interactions in the economy. It explores Utah's unique and growing industrial banking industry. It provides an understanding of why these institutions are formed, how they function, and their unique characteristics. Prerequisites: FINC 300. Offered Fall semester.
|Personal Financial Planning & Insurance
|This course is an introduction to the basics that will form the foundation of knowledge for the financial services professional. The financial planning process, as well as the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues affecting financial planners, and time value of money concepts are covered. The course continues with a discussion of the principles of risk management and insurance, allowing the student to identify a client's risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques. Prerequisites: FINC 300. Offered Fall semester.
|Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits
|This course covers all the major retirement-related issues: retirement savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; nonqualified deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined. Offered Spring semester.
|Securities Regulations and Trading
|This course focuses on the rules, regulations, and laws an individual must know to be prepared to function as a licensed professional dealing with securities.
|Financial Derivatives
|This course will analyze the basic types of financial derivatives such as options, futures, forwards, and swaps. Speculative and risk management uses of financial derivatives will be examined.
|Directed Studies
|A tutorial-based course used only for student-initiated proposals for intensive individual study of topics not otherwise offered in the Finance Program. Prerequisites: FINC 300 and consent of instructor and school dean.
|Investment Strategies and Applications
|This course meets for two hours in Fall semester and two hours in Spring semester. Students in this course will be managing the D.A. Davidson Student Investment Fund for the academic year. The course will give students experience preparing industry/sector analyses, researching and using various investment styles, making stock selections, monitoring portfolio selections, preparing performance reports and portfolio re-balancing. The class is designed to expose students to employment opportunities in investment research and management. Prerequisites: FINC 300, 305. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
|Special Topics in Finance
|Topics relevant to Finance students will be offered periodically under this title.
|International Finance
|The primary focus of this course is the understanding and application of the concepts of corporate finance, financial markets, and investment in an international context. Students will analyze economic, political, cultural, religious, and demographic factors that impact country financial risk. Specific topics include the international flow of funds, exchange rate determination, managing currency exposure, global investing, political/financial risk analysis, and international capital budgeting from a global perspective. Prerequisite: FINC 300. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
|Students receive credit for meeting pre-arranged learning objectives while working for a company or non-profit organization. Internships give students the opportunity to compare their understanding of classroom material with current best practices in their field. Credit is based on the number of hours at the job site and the nature of the learning objectives. Monthly class sessions reinforce the student learning objectives, and allow interns to compare their experiences with other interns. Prerequisites: FINC 300; junior or senior standing (transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 Westminster credit hours or obtain permission of instructor); and approvals from the Gore School of Business Practice/Experience Coordinator and the Career Center internship coordinator.
|Finance Practicum
|(2 or 4)
|The Disciplinary Practicum is a student team-based, company consultation project. The project addresses a real issue of concern to a client company (or non-profit organization), requires extensive research, and results in a formal oral presentation and written report to the company. Students work in teams of 3–6 students under the supervision of a Gore School of Business faculty member. Prerequisites: FINC 300; MATH 150; junior or senior standing.
|Professional Portfolio
|The Professional Portfolio is designed for mid-career professionals. The class gives students the opportunity to assess their interests and skills, design a career plan, and create a portfolio, which documents what they have to offer to an organization in an appropriate field. Students must have at least five years of professional or managerial experience to enroll in this class. Prerequisites: FINC 300; junior or senior standing; and approval of the Gore School of Business Experience/Practice Coordinator. The 442 series is offered primarily as a directed studies option. For further information and 442 approval, see the Practice Experience Coordinator.
|Cases in Financial Planning
|This course integrates the concepts and theories students acquire in their educational experience at Westminster. The focus of this course is on utilizing this knowledge to develop solutions to complex and multi-faceted financial problems supported with rational justification of conclusions and recommendations. Prerequisites: senior standing, FINC 305, 315, 316; ACCT 474, 475. Offered Spring semester.
|Business Forecasting
|This course is designed to introduce students to advanced statistical forecasting procedures. The course addresses the process of assessing the need for forecasting, choice of forecasting tools, evaluation of the forecast and how to present results to management. Topics include exploratory data analysis and graphing techniques, data transformations and smoothing multivariate regression models, simultaneous system estimation, and time series analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 150, ECON 253, 263, FINC 300. Offered Spring semester.
|Strategic Financial Management and Entrepreneurship
|This course integrates and synergizes the concepts/theories the student has acquired in their undergraduate experience from liberal education courses, undergraduate business core courses, upper division finance courses, and finance elective courses. The emphasis is entirely strategic where the firm is evaluated and valued based on its mission, vision, and goals, within the broad financial context. Application of the concepts/theories will be focused in an entrepreneurial environment. Prerequisites: completion of business core and finance requirements; senior standing, FINC 300, 305, 309. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.


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DescriptionGet ready to Bomp in this truly unique switching game with a stomping beat. Match rows of Bomps of the same colour to clear them away in this addictive puzzle game. Beware of the ticking bombs and use the Star-Bomps to remove the Police Bomps and start the party!
- Clear the Bomps by switching places of two Bomps to create rows or columns with 3 or more Bomps of the same colour.
- Click on the two Bomps you want to switch places with your left mouse button. Only Bomps that are touching vertically or horisontally may be switched.
- Remove Police Bomps by using triple star or star + bomb combinations. When they're all gone, the party begins.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Gun Down the Alarm Clock
March 24, 2007 by Abhinav Kaiser | 4 Comments
Filed Under Cool Gadgets, Household
The object I hate the most every morning of my life is the alarm clock. When it starts ringing at 7:30 in the morning every day, the only thing that goes in my head is to slam this 'waking up machine' against the wall or toss it out of the window. Practically it would be possible but financially it wouldn't be a smart move.
Roger Ibars has designed a prototype which is a simple alarm clock fitted with an old gaming gun retrofitted with a few tilt switches. The alarm clock could be controlled by tilting the gun in different directions but the elating feature is that the alarm clock would be silenced by pulling the trigger. There is nothing more satisfying than pulling the trigger on the 'thing' that woke me up.
The gun operated alarm clock is still a concept and it would be a 'must-have' gadget in my bedroom if the concept is realized and produced.
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4 Comments so far
Stefano on
April 10, 2007 22:53
everythink good
Hunt Jason on
April 11, 2007 19:21
I don't like this idea. We already live in a environment with violent TV, games, etc. I don't want my kids to have a concept of "killing it if you do not like." Alarm clock is your friend, not your enemy. Face it, it is your personal problem, stupid.
Gadgets on
October 2, 2007 10:34
Well, looking at that picture kinda makes me wonder. When you wake up, you're all mad because it rang, wouldn't it be more easier just to yank the gun and smash the clock into the walls ? Because I don't think the cord is too long and the clock just might come down.
T. Ownerer on
October 18, 2010 00:56
@Hunt Jason


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ALADDIN, the timeless story of Aladdin, the Genie and three magic wishes, transcends generations and borders as it follows Aladdin, the Genie of the Lamp and Princess Jasmine on a series of wondrous adventures through the fascinating world of the Arabian Nights.
With just one touch of the magic lamp, Aladdin leads visitors through an incredible, exotic world full of daring adventure and surprises. Disney's ALADDIN is not just a story about two young people whose love must overcome the boundaries between their families: it is also a fairytale about the young Aladdin and the three wishes granted to him by the Genie.
World-famous songs from the Oscar-winning Disney film, as well as many new compositions written exclusively for the Broadway production, sweep the audience away and combine to form a truly unforgettable live experience.
More than 350 people were involved in the design and creation of the elaborate costumes featured in the show. These garments are real show stoppers: made from extravagant materials and studded with millions of real Swarowski crystals, their radiance gives the sumptuous stage sets a real run for their money.
The musical's technical effects are equally awe-inspiring: with over 80 special effects and Aladdin and Jasmine's sensational night-time flying carpet ride over the stage, this show will take your breath away.
A fairytale story, opulent costumes, sweeping melodies and sublime acting: that is ALADDIN, a musical that is sure to leave you spellbound!
Две полезни комбинации от клавиши за мащабиране в браузъра:
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По-нататъшна помощ ще получите от доставчика на браузъра чрез щракване върху иконата:


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Rand is totally right, consumer choice is being overridden by control freaks in government, with the force of law backing them up. All the while the same government is trumpeting rhetoric about providing more choice. The woman here smugly tells Rand Paul that Congress and the president basically got together and decided that consumer's do have a choice: buy what we tell you to buy, be fined or go to jail. Those are the new options.
Filed under: liberties | Tagged: consumer choice, energy committe hearing, Rand Paul |


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Big-Wrapper Crisis
Last summer, cigar merchants in London were celebrating the imminent arrival of a shipment of large cigars from Cuba, including the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona and the Punch Double Corona. Customers had been badgering the retailers for months for boxes of these big, robust cigars, even though British merchants hadn't had any since the beginning of 1994. Day after day, it was the same story--an angry telephone call or a tongue-lashing from a visiting customer. No one would believe them when they said they didn't have any to sell.
The merchants' revelry, however, was short lived. When the Cuban cigar shipment finally arrived in August, it included a mere 280 boxes of the double coronas, which were distributed among the best cigar shops in London. Most of the double coronas never even reached the shelves, because prized customers were automatically allocated a box or two. The rest sold out in a few hours. "We got about 1,000 cigars," says Robert Emery, who oversees the London cigar shops of James J. Fox, Robert Lewis and Harrods. "We sold out right away. We are still taking orders all the time for double coronas. We have pages of people who want them. They are like gold dust."
Adds Simon Chase, marketing director for Hunters & Frankau, the leading agent in the United Kingdom for Cuban cigars, "we could have easily sold more than 3,000 boxes of Hoyo Double Coronas last year if we had had them. We are in a silly situation. If everyone had Hoyo Double Coronas, it might be different, but I could pick up the phone today and sell 40,000 of them with very little trouble at all. And that might be to just one person." The situation in London is no different than any other place in the world where connoisseurs harbor a penchant for big, premium handmade cigars.
Regardless of their origin, many large-format cigars--especially double corona and Churchill sizes--are in extremely limited supply, primarily due to a shortage in large wrapper tobacco. The outer leaf surrounding a cigar is more significant than some believe; not only can a poor wrapper ruin the appearance of a cigar, it can also throw off the balance of its tobacco blend, making it smoke harshly or unevenly. With less top-quality wrapper leaf available to serious cigar manufacturers, many are finding it harder and harder to produce larger-sized cigars--which usually are their flagship sizes.
In view of the dwindling selection of large cigars in fine shops around the world, shrewd cigar lovers, especially Havana aficionados, have already begun stocking up on large cigars to assure a steady supply over the next year or two. If your favorite cigar is a Churchill or a double corona, you would be wise to buy several boxes--a few dozen might be better--and put them away to survive the shortage. This is especially true if your favorite cigars are Cuban or made with a Cameroon wrapper. Leading cigar merchants in London say customers' personal stocks are already increasing each month. And for the tasting of double coronas in this issue, we were simply unable to find many brands in the marketplace.
Most key cigar producers do not expect the shortage to end for a year or two. Cigar production simply can't keep up with demand, especially in the larger sizes. Look at the growth in cigar sales from the Dominican Republic. Annual exports of cigars are now close to 74 million; just a few years ago the number was in the mid-50s. Most of the stellar growth comes from the United States, where cigar makers report customers doubling or even quadrupling their orders last year. Many key cigar makers have back orders for millions of cigars.
"We could sell at least 50 percent more large cigars, if we had them," says Carlos Fuente Jr., the president of Arturo Fuente cigars in Santiago, Dominican Republic, which produces cigars under his family name as well as for Ashton, Cuesta-Rey and others. "I think that we have panic ordering. I have never seen anything like it." Adds Richard Meerapfel of Brussels-based Meerapfel & Söhne, a major player in the Cameroonian tobacco business: "The problem is that if the demand outpaces tobacco plantings, there is nothing we can do. We only have one crop a year. I was just in the States, and I couldn't believe it. I was in a hotel, and I saw five or six people in the bar smoking cigars that could have been mistaken for small baseball bats. The demand is crazy."
The soaring demand for large cigars--anything from a lonsdale 6 1/2 inches by 42 ring gauge to a gran corona 9 1/4 inches by 47 ring gauge--only adds to the frustration of many cigar makers. "Everybody has been caught with their pants down," says Fuente. "We weren't prepared for it. I think it will take two to three years to get production up to the levels of demand."
Francisco Padron, until recently the president of Havana-based Habanos SA (formerly Cubatabaco), the worldwide distribution company for Cuban cigars, had hoped that the shortage of export cigars from Cuba might be solved sooner, especially with this year's harvest, which is expected to be bountiful. "Although we will slightly increase the production from this year's levels, we will continue to have a supply problem," he says, adding that Cuba's total exports in 1994 were expected to hit between 50 million and 55 million cigars, a significant decrease from about 75 million just nine years ago. "We might have 500,000 more large cigars. But our current production [of large cigars] is only about 2.5 million. If we had the raw material, we could produce about 6 million big cigars."
The current predicament with Cuba's hottest cigar, Hoyo de Monterrey's Double Corona, illustrates why some large cigars are so hard to get. The cigar, which measures 7 5/8 inches long by 49 ring gauge, has a cult following among Havana cigar lovers. It's a rich and succulent cigar, delivering distinctive aromas and flavors. Many believe it is one of Cuba's greatest cigars. In the Winter 1992/93 Cigar Aficionado, we rated it 99 points out of 100, our highest score ever given to a cigar. In this issue we give it 96.
Unfortunately, production of the "Hoyo DC" continues to decline each year. A series of short crops has made it more and more difficult for Havana's La Corona factory to source the top-quality tobacco needed for the production of double corona, or prominente, cigars, as they are called in the factory. Last year's production was well under 30,000 cigars. Just a year before, almost 60,000 were made. "It's very simple," says Philip Jimenez Pares, manager of La Corona, who believes his factory may slightly increase the production of double coronas this year. "We just don't have the raw materials."
Benito Molina, the manager of the H. Upmann factory in Havana, has similar problems with his gran corona or Montecristo "A," Cuba's most expensive and largest cigar. "In 1994 we made only about 10,000 [of the] Montecristo 'A', " he says. "But we have the ability to make 20,000 to 25,000 a year. We just didn't have the quality wrapper leaf available." In addition, his factory usually produces up to 80,000 Upmann Churchill or Julieta cigars. Last year, he thought they would be lucky to make more than 50,000.
The problem is this: wrapper leaves for such large cigars should be at least 15 inches in length and about four inches wide, besides having a specific, uniform color, texture and elasticity, as well as aroma and flavor. This usually represents a tiny percentage of a good harvest in Cuba's key wrapper-tobacco growing areas, the Vuelta Abajo and Partidos. In a good year, only 10 percent to 15 percent of a plantation's harvest may be of sufficient quality to be classified as wrapper. Only the half dozen or so leaves located in the center of a plant are usually used for wrappers. Of those, leaves that are the right size and quality for large cigars represent a much smaller percentage. When harvests are short--as they were in 1992, 1993 and 1994--finding top-quality wrapper tobacco is even more difficult. It's like taking a pint of whole milk and pouring away half its contents. Most of the cream, the equivalent of top-quality wrapper leaf in a harvest, is the first to go.
The situation is similar in the Central African nations of Cameroon and the Central African Republic, which are jointly responsible for growing wrapper tobacco known as Cameroon in the cigar trade. In the past two to three years, the darker-brown, richer-flavored tobacco has become increasingly popular with top producers in the Dominican Republic as American and European consumers have sought more distinctive cigars. Unfortunately, upheavals in the political and managerial structure of the tobacco industry in Cameroon, not to mention poor weather, have drastically reduced recent tobacco harvests. New tobacco plantings in the Central African Republic have helped, but Cameroon still accounts for more than two-thirds of all tobacco sold under its name, and last year's killer drought reduced the crop in both countries by 95 percent.
"The orders for big cigars around the world are going up faster than we can grow leaf tobacco in a year," says Meerapfel, whose family firm now oversees a large part of the Cameroon crop. "That has really put a squeeze on clients. I hope the situation with the 1995 crop, weather providing, will be better in Cameroon and the Central African Republic. We are doing everything we can to assure that this happens."
With the exception of such Dominican cigars as Partagas and Fuente, all other brands currently using Cameroon wrappers will be in short supply. Some producers have even switched to tobacco from other countries for their wrappers. "Cameroon is a lost cause," says Manuel Quesada of the Dominican Republic's Manufactures de Tabacos S.A. (matasa), producers of Fonseca, Romeo and Julieta, Licenciados, Sosa, José Benito and Cubita. "There are no sizes available. Nearly everybody is out of it."
One alternative source for cigar makers is Connecticut. Although the plantations located a short distance from Hartford report having plenty of wrapper leaf, some key cigar producers say it is increasingly difficult to get the color and quality of Connecticut shade wrapper that they want. "In Connecticut, you can find large enough leaves to do what you need, but as far as the quality that we need for the cigars--it is very scarce," says Quesada. "It's not a problem if you need a light-brown [almost yellow] wrapper, but the trend is for darker colors. Those can be hard to get."
Not everyone who uses Connecticut shade has problems. General Cigar Company, producers of Macanudo and Partagas (Dominican), has all the top-quality wrapper leaf it needs, according to Daniel Nunez, director of Culbro Tobacco's operations in the Dominican Republic and Connecticut. General Cigar and Culbro Tobacco, which is a key grower of Connecticut shade tobacco, are both subsidiaries of Culbro Corporation. "We have no problem as far as General Cigar," he says. "Macanudo works on a two-and-a-half-year inventory, and we have a very comfortable situation. We have never been better protected for wrappers in the past 10 years, especially for Macanudo. Any wrapper on a Macanudo is guaranteed to have two-and-a-half years of aging."
Nunez admits, however, that his company is in a less secure--but still stable--position with its Cameroon wrapper cigars, such as the Partagas. "We are very comfortable [with Cameroon tobacco] now. For our 1995 production of Partagas, for example, we have all the Cameroon wrapper we need in our inventory," he says. "If there is a good harvest in Cameroon this year, then there shouldn't be a problem."
Nunez says that building a solid inventory of the best-quality wrapper tobacco is one of the main reasons General has been investing millions of dollars into its Connecticut shade operation. "Let's remember that Culbro Tobacco is primarily for General Cigar and to protect its brand, Macanudo," he says, adding that they have significantly increased the production of darker-colored wrapper leaf in recent years. He estimated that 50 percent of his company's wrapper-leaf harvest will now be considered dark-colored, compared with only 15 percent to 20 percent five years ago. "Whatever surplus wrapper we have is for sale. But this [surplus] is not usually up to the standards of Macanudo."
Nonetheless, Nunez thought that more top-quality, darker-colored Connecticut-grown wrapper tobacco would be available in the coming years. "You can't change things from one day to the next," he says. "It takes a long time; it is a very expensive business growing tobacco, and especially in premium cigars. I foresee that in 1995 and 1996 there should be enough Connecticut shade for all premium handmade cigars."
So why haven't other cigar manufacturers followed General's example and carried large stocks of tobacco to buffer shortage periods? "Building an inventory in tobacco is a tremendous investment," says Meerapfel. "So the shortage will be most difficult for people with small inventories. It could even cause a fluctuation in the quality of cigars next year from smaller producers. At the present pace, there will be a very tight situation in everything, whether it is long filler, binder or wrapper."
Moreover, tobacco growers are extremely slow to adapt to changes in the marketplace. This is primarily due to the nature of growing and handling tobacco. It may take as long as three years for new wrapper tobacco to find its way to a cigar: one year of growing, six months of processing and an additional 18 months of aging. Also, new plantings require massive investment--even though only a percentage of the total can be sold as wrapper or premium tobacco. Wrapper can represent only about one-tenth to two-thirds of the entire crop, depending on its provenance. So the risk of harvesting only small quantities of top-quality, saleable tobacco is too high for most farmers.
Another factor sometimes forgotten but still significant is Mother Nature. She can be very tough on tobacco growers. Last year's crops in both Cuba and Cameroon were severely damaged by poor weather during the growing season. In fact, Cuba has not had a good wrapper crop since 1986, although many in the tobacco business there claim this year could break records--if the weather is good. "We have everything we need this year," says Padron, who, after receiving millions of dollars in aid from his worldwide agents, purchased and distributed fertilizer, petrol and other goods to growers in prime tobacco regions after last year's small harvest.
"It is the first time in four or five years, maybe longer. We have the tapado [tent cloth], the wood, the fertilizer, everything. If we have a big harvest this year, then there will be a big increase in big cigars. That means more Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona, more Punch Double Corona. We must pray to have a big crop this year. We must pray." Padron says the export factories in Havana could easily handle the extra work, although factory owners in other countries were less convinced they could carry the extra workload if the raw materials were available. "The industry has grown by leaps and bounds, but we want the growth to be a gradual thing," says Fuente. "To increase your production of large cigars, you have to order more molds and train your rollers. It is a question of priorities: we sell other cigars also, don't forget."
In addition, none of the cigar producers we interviewed want to risk reducing their quality to meet the demand. "The demand is fantastic, but we can't just think that we can make a killing in sales, not worry about the quality and then retire," says Quesada. "We can't supply the demand without the quality. So until things get better, we'll just have to suffer."
Quesada and other cigar-trade members aren't the only ones suffering. Frustration runs all the way down to the consumer in knowing that fewer and fewer Churchills, double coronas and other large cigars are available. Still, it could be worse. "It is not as bad as it seems," admits London cigar merchant Emery. "People will usually take a Punch Punch or Robusto if they can't get a Churchill or a double corona. They don't want to leave empty-handed."


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I posted a fabulous review of La Tortilla Factory's Gluten-Free Tortillas at the end of April. I didn't have a picture of the wrap in action, so wanted to make sure to share that now that I have a couple. I really, really can't say enough good things about these wraps. They are a dream come true, as everyone who has tried numerous GF wraps knows.
Here is one as a deli wrap w/ turkey breast, cheese, tomato & spinach (on the side I had some amazing Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips):
Then, I grilled a tuna salad burrito style wrap (not as pretty, but still, no cracking!). This was tuna salad & spinach leaves grilled on the George Foreman:
So, don't pass these puppies up if you run across them! So worth the $$!
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free, Gluten-free Products | 4 Comments »


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I agreed earlier with cassandra of Delawareliberal that we--Americans--are a violent society. The graph she used compared us to other OECD nations, and we didn't look very good. It did not occur to me at the time, however, to compare the US to the world's largest democratic nation: India.
When I did, there were some disquieting discoveries:
India is an exceptionally violent place, especially against women:
Domestic violence in India is endemic and widespread predominantly against women.[1] Around 70% of women in India are victims to domestic violence according to Renuka Chowdhury junior minister for women and child development. National Crime Records Bureau reveal that a crime against a women is committed every three minutes, a women is raped every 29 minutes, a dowry death occurs every 77 minutes and one case of cruelty committed by either the husband or relative of the victim.[2]A very good discussion of Why India is So Damn Violent suggests, among other things, the influence of media in a society already dealing with a long tradition of patriarchy and misogyny [apologies for the bizarre spacing; could not get rid of it]:
Take something as ubiquitous in Indian life as Bollywood cinema.
As pointed out by economist Swaminathan Aiyar, Bollywood films are replete with scenes characterized by the harassment of women and even of rape. As he writes, one particular well-known screen villain did about 100 rape scenes "with the audience almost cheering him on."
Mr. Aiyar notes that in the film "Hum," icon Amitabh Bachchan played a role in which he, watched by a large group of men, forces his unwanted attention on the film's heroine, who eventually relents and gives him the kiss that he's been looking for.
Mr. Aiyar concludes that the message of such scenes to the audience is that "if only you harass a woman enough, no matter how often she says no, she'll ultimately say yes."
Apart from a few notable exceptions such as the actor Farhan Akhtar who have called out the misogyny in Bollywood cinema, the silence on the role that Bollywood itself may play in perpetuating gender stereotypes is deafening.
Of course, as with the correlation between the sex ratio and violent crime, it's difficult — if not impossible — to prove that a casual relationship exists between the depiction of misogyny in popular culture and the incidence of violence against women.
It could also be that popular culture reflects values and mores as much as it shapes them. Still, in a celebrity obsessed culture such as India's, in which people follow every tiny move of their favorite film star, we shouldn't underestimate the power of cinema and other forms of popular culture to be an agent of social change.
Note the similarity here in the tendency to see media depictions as either causal or reflective of societal trends toward violence. In our own discussions, a number of commenters (again at DL) have suggested that media should not be considered a prime culprit because (I'm paraphrasing rather than hunting down the original comment) Europeans and Canadians watch the same violent movies and play the same violent video games but do not have the same level of gun violence as we do in our society.
India doesn't have that level of gun violence, either, because in India owning a gun (like owning property) is not a right but a privilege, and guns are--by American standards--very carefully controlled.
The link is too comprehensive to really excerpt effectively, so if you are not in the mood for clicking through, try this:
Gun ownership in India is a privilege under the Arms Act of 1959.[74] The Arms Act of 1959 and the Arms Rules of 1962 were derived from the text of the Indian Arms Act of 1876 created by the British Rulers in view of the 1857 rebellion against the East India company.[75]
To obtain a license to own a firearm, a person has to prove that there exists "threat to life."[citation needed] Once a license is obtained, there are several restrictions on caliber (9mm, .303 British .45 ACP are prohibited along with several other calibers) and types of firearms (semiautomatic rifles, short barrel shotguns, and automatic weapons are not allowed for civilians).[citation needed] A license is limited to three firearms under section 3 of the Arms Act 1959.[75]Under the wake of terror the government is considering making the rules even more stringent.
Yet these restrictions have not, apparently, made India a less violent place--and not just in terms of women:
A report published by the National Crime Records Bureau compared crime rate from 1953 to 2006. The report noted that burglary declined over a period of 53 years by 38% (from 147,379 in 1953 to 91,666 in 2006), whereas murder has increased by 231% (from 9,803 in 1953 to 32,481 in 2006).[2] Kidnapping has increased by 356% (from 5,261 in 1953 to 23,991 in 2006), robbery by 120% (from 8,407 in 1953 to 18,456 in 2006) and riots by 176% (from 20,529 in 1953 to 56,641 in 2006).[2]Certainly there will be objections to comparing India to the US as opposed to Europe, Canada, or Australia, but I think there is some validity in doing so. The two primary objections I can think of are that India is far more racked with religious conflicts than America, and that India is not necessarily considered an industrialized nation. Both arguments have some validity, but I do not think that they should blind us to the fact that in the world's largest democracy strong gun controls have NOT resulted in a decrease in violent crime when women are getting gang-raped to death in the streets and tens of thousands of people are being kidnapped or murdered each year.
What does it all mean for our national discussion of gun rights and gun control?
I'm not sure, other than to say that we all need to get beyond the usual talking points and engage in some serious research and reflection.


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May 26 @ 6:00 am - 8:00 pm
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An event every week that begins at 6:00 am on Tuesday, repeating indefinitely
Individuals who meet criteria for early intervention due to high risk use or abuse of drugs or alcohol qualify for our Awareness Group. This program is geared toward increasing knowledge of drug and alcohol problem behavior. This group also helps each individual to evaluate their own drug or alcohol use and consequences.


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A new trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has gone online. As it's only subtly different from the one that was previously released, folks are referring to this one as The Hobbit 1.1. Regardless, I'll take any new footage of Martin Freeman and Ian McKellan I can get at this point.
The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Stephen Fry. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14, 2012. Hit the jump to check out the new trailer.
The new(ish) trailer that played in front of Pixar's Brave is now online (via TheOneRing). Here's a look at where the new footage pops up, followed by the trailer itself:
- 0:23 — Bilbo's reaction to Gandalf's arrival
- 1:57 — Bilbo hiding behind a tree in Mirkwood
- 1:59 — Gandalf, the dwarves, and Bilbo running through a forest
Here's the official synopsis for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
"The Hobbit" follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.


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The major U.S. Olympic trials are under way through July 2 in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Live coverage of many events can be found on the NBC Sports Network, and selected videos will appear on NBCOlympics.com. Here's what you should watch Saturday, June 30:
The event: Swimming: women's 200m back (semifinal); women's 200m breast, 200m IM (final); men's 100m fly, 50m free (semifinals) and men's 200m back, 200m IM (finals).
When: 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET, June 30, NBC.
U.S. & World
Where: CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.
One to watch: Anthony Ervin will not be hard to miss when he competes in today's 50m freestyle: the 31-year-old has sleeve-tattoos covering both arms. Ervin was the first swimmer of African-American heritage to make the U.S. Olympic team and at the 2000 Sydney Games he won gold in the 50m free and silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Three years later he shocked the swimming world by retiring before he could get a chance to defend his medal at the 2004 Games.
Raised in Valencia, Calif., Ervin's father is of African-American and Native American descent and his mother is Jewish. At the time of his retirement - at the ripe old age of 22 - Ervin told the Daily Californian that he felt "like that part of my life - as a competitor - is over. I'm moving on to new things, new goals, new ambitions."
Those new ambitions included a move to New York where he played with a rock band and taught swimming to children. He moved to the Bay Area in 2010 and cites those children he taught in New York, and those he met later at a club in Oakland, as the inspiration he needed to get back into the pool competitively. "Seeing them committed, gradually making changes and improving, and then having fun with it, I don't know," Ervin told The New York Times. "I guess it kind of blew on some embers that had grown really, really cold, and eventually grew into a fire."
This month Ervin won the 50m free at the Santa Clara Grand Prix and is seeded seventh going into today's race. "I didn't think I'd be here as far back as eight months ago," he said in the Times article. "Back to 2004, I didn't think
What happens: The fastest two swimmers in each individual event earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team bound for London.
Read more about the Olympic swimming trials and events
The event: Track & Field: men's 200m (semifinals), men's 110m hurdles (final) and women's 800m heptathlon, women's 200m (finals).
When: 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, June 30, NBC.
Where: TrackTown USA in Eugene, Ore.
One to watch: The women's heptathlon consists of 100m hurdles, 200m dash, 800m run, long jump, high jump, shot put and the javelin throw. The term "all-around athlete" could not be more prevalent and versatility, rather than one major strength, is the key to winning.
At the Beijing Olympics in 2008 Hyleas Fountain won the bronze medal in the heptathlon, making her the first American woman to medal in the event since Jackie Joyner-Kersee took back-to-back golds at the 1988 and 1992 games. (Fountain was later upgraded to the silver medal when Ukrainian Lyudmila Blonska was stripped of second place due to doping.)
Fountain, 31, grew up in Harrisburg, Pa. but now resides and trains in Port Orange, Fla. Since Beijing, Fountain has battled numerous injuries including neck, back and hamstring concerns that have often sidelined her. "Since I haven't done much in the past couple of years because I have been injured, people are putting me on the back burner," Fountain told the Daytona Beach News-Journal last week. But the athlete is cool with the perception, saying that the lack of pressure is a good thing. But don't think Fountain isn't focused on that medal podium - both in Oregon and London. "Definitely this year, I'm coming back," she says. "I'm a lot stronger than I was before, so I'm definitely excited to go to London."
What happens: The top three athletes in the women's heptathlon will qualify to make the Olympic team and journey to London.
Read more about the Olympic track & field events.
The event: Gymnastics: men's final.
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, June 30, NBC.
Where: HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Ones to watch: Team U.S.A. has not won men's gymnastics' top prize since Paul Hamm took the all-around gold during the 2004 Athens Games. Danell Leyva is planning to change that this year. It's easy to see where his conviction and determination comes from: Leyva's stepfather and coach Yin Alvarez defected from Cuba while on a trip to Mexico in 1992. A year later, his mother spirited Danell and his older sister from Cuba to the United States via Peru and Venezuela. The two childhood friends (both former gymnasts) married in 2001 after a period working together in Florida.
"For me, [thinking about the Olympics] pumps me up," Leyva, 20, told U.S.A. Gymnastics. " I picture myself there everyday, and I get excited. My dream is coming true. I'm really excited and can't wait for it." Leyva will be facing tough competition in the form of John Orozco, who took the national title this month in a surprise upset. Throughout the competition Orozco had not one a single event, but had steadily produced one solid routine after another. By delivering an almost faultless final floor exercise, Orozco beat Leyva by 0.05 of a point to claim the men's all-around title. The stage is now set for a friendly rivalry at the trials.
There are six events in men's gymnastics - floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. With only five spots on the Olympic team up for grabs, it'll be a test of all-around competence and strength for the men today. There may be no room for those who specialize in only one or two of the exercises.
What happens: Five men and five women will be chosen to represent the United States in men's and women's gymnastics at the 2012 Olympic Games. For the men, two athletes will be identified following the conclusion of the second day of competition, with the remaining members announced July 1 in conjunction with the women's final session.
For women, the individual all-around champion at the conclusion of two days of competition at the trials will automatically make the Olympic Team. The remaining four athletes will be determined by the selection committee and announced on July 1.
Read more about the Olympic gymnastic trials and events.
For broadcast information, visit NBC 's Olympic website and click on "TV Listings" for your local listings.


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Celebrate the Ten-Year Anniversary of the Carrboro Really Really Free Market!
Celebrate the Ten-Year Anniversary of the Carrboro Really Really Free Market!
Save the date: 2 pm, Saturday, October 4, 2014
Carrboro Town Commons in Carrboro, North Carolina
A wild party! The Carrboro Really Really Free Market is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with a massive festival! You're invited for a whole weekend of really really free activities. We're hoping comrades from around the world will join us in making this something to remember!
A clash of utopias! Come demonstrate the life you would prefer to capitalism. Set up a booth, offer a workshop, put on a performance, screen a film, carry out some dramatic action, obtain and distribute some resource no one could imagine being free. We want to see a wide range of utopian visions and ungovernable desires manifested. Rather than simply opposing what exists, reactively, we dare you to demonstrate that your alternative to competition and obedience is more nourishing, more exciting, and more fulfilling than anything the market can offer. (more…)


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The site's developer Rame Energy said that three Vestas V126 turbines are set to be used at the project.
It is the first reported time that the 126-metre blade turbine will be used on the continent. It has been designed to for low wind locations.
Vestas will supply, erect and commission the turbines whilst Rame will undertake the civil and electrical work.
Construction of the Punta Chome project, located 435 kilometres south of Santiago, is expected to begin later this year before becoming operational in 2015 – subject to project financing.
In March, Vestas received an order to supply 30 V126 3.3MW turbines to two projects in Finland.
Rame also announced agreement of a 10-year power purchase agreement for the project with Chilean energy fund Empresa Electrica.


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Validaten and VC-Bound in practice
after reading the validation chapter of the book, I got some questions about the VC-bound.
I understand, that especially for cross-validation, the generalization theory is not completely applicable anymore. I think that's why your wrote the "model complexity penalty term" in all equations with the O(.) notation instead of using the exact bound from the second chapter (2.12).
However in a practical situation you must give an estimate about the E_out to the customer. And a constant factor like would make a direct difference in the numbers given to the customer. With O(.) notation you lose those factors, that leads to a more optimistic estimation.
So in practice, when using the validation error to estimate Eout for the customer, do you simply apply the full formula for the VC-Bound or Hoeffding-Bound (in case of discrete models to select)?
Or does the validation error just gives an relative estimate and when you have to provide absolute numbers to customer you have to use a separated test-set and apply the simple Hoeffding-Bound to Etest?
Best regards
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hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril
Pronunciation: HYE droe KLOR oh THY a zide and KWIN a pril
Brand: Accuretic
12.5 mg-10 mg, oval, pink, imprinted with PD 222
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-20 mg, oval, pink, imprinted with I G, 375
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-20 mg, triangular, pink, imprinted with G 220
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-10 mg, oval, pink, imprinted with G 222
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
25 mg-20 mg, round, pink, imprinted with G 223
12.5 mg-20 mg, triangular, pink, imprinted with PD 220
25 mg-20 mg, round, pink, imprinted with PD 223
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-10 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 542
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-20 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with M 543
Hydrochlorothiazide-Quinapril Hydrochloride
25 mg-20 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 544
12.5 mg-10 mg, oval, peach, imprinted with A2 38
12.5 mg-20 mg, triangular, peach, imprinted with A 239
25 mg-20 mg, round, orange, imprinted with A 240
What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away.
You should not use hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril if you have ever had angioedema, or if you are unable to urinate. Do not take this medicine within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubatril (such as Entresto).
If you have diabetes, do not use hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (such as Tekturna or Tekamlo).
What is hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Quinapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Quinapril lowers blood pressure and also relieves symptoms of fluid retention.
Hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril is a combination medicine used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
Hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or quinapril, or if:
- you have a history of angioedema;
- you are unable to urinate;
- you recently took a heart medicine called sacubatril; or
- you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, ramipril, trandolapril, and others.
Do not take hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubatril (such as Entresto).
If you have diabetes, do not use hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (such as Tekturna or Tekamlo).
You may also need to avoid taking hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.
To make sure hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- cirrhosis or other liver disease;
- glaucoma;
- congestive heart failure;
- gout;
- lupus;
- diabetes; or
- an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Quinapril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.
Hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking quinapril. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your blood and urine may also be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated. Visit your doctor regularly.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking quinapril, unless your doctor has told you to.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of this medicine.
What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, severe stomach pain, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- eye pain, vision problems;
- swelling, weight gain, shortness of breath;
- sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, trouble swallowing;
- high potassium --nausea, slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, loss of movement;
- low potassium --confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
- low levels of sodium --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.
Common side effects may include:
- cough;
- headache, dizziness;
- tired feeling; or
- muscle pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril?
Other drugs may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision date: 9/29/2017.


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Regents Take Action to Meet an Additional Two Percent Budget Cut
Atlanta — December 3, 2008
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) approved today in a special called meeting a change in health benefit plans for USG employees as well as a temporary fee for all USG students. The changes will help the System's 35 colleges and universities meet an additional two percent reduction in the current Fiscal Year 2009 budget.
As a result of the board's action today, as of Jan. 1, 2009, the employer contribution rate for health insurance for the System's PPO and HMO health plans will be reduced from 75 percent to 70 percent. USG employees enrolled in these plans will thus pay increased premiums ranging from approximately $17 to $65 a month, depending upon the plan and number of individuals covered. The employer contribution rate for the Indemnity plan will be the same as the PPO plan. The employer rate for the System's high deductible health plan will continue at its current level of 90 percent. This change will result in an additional $8 million in savings throughout the System.
Effective for the spring 2009 semester, all USG students will pay a temporary, one-semester fee: $100 at research universities and six other universities, $75 at most comprehensive universities, and $50 at two-year and state colleges. The fee will offset an additional $20 million in budget reductions at the institutions.
An additional $12 million in savings will occur as a result of instructions that allow all USG institutions to defer maintenance expenditures. This budget reduction measure initially was approved by the regents this past August and did not require additional approval in today's meeting.
"These are difficult decisions," said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. "The board's action today will protect the System's core teaching mission and maintain academic quality."
The regents took action in August to reduce the System's budget by six percent ($136 million), and also to approve contingency plans for additional reductions. Health care plans and the student fee were two components of these additional reduction plans.« News Releases


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Located on the island of Terschelling in the Netherlands, Dune House by
Its shape resembles a wooden diamond, which varies in angle and exposure as the visual perspective shifts. According to the architects, "the forces of nature prevalent in the environment – the sea, the sunlight and the local wind patterns – determine the design in such a way as if they themselves had sculpted the house. It is above all a very contextual design and for this reason every material was chosen after close examination of the colors and textures found in the environment."
Step inside and you will discover a surprising array of interiors, where curious shapes are well emphasized by an abundance of natural light: The loft-like house recreates the experience of having a walk on the dunes in its interior as a spiraling promenade architectural around its core as one continuous path from platform to platform, each just a few steps higher than the next.
This generates very interesting spatial and visual relations between each of the rooms, but also towards the landscape as each opening in the house has been shaped, sized and positioned in a specific way, according to its function. Sustainable features of the design include the use of prefabricated wood, solar panels, and a biomass run fireplace. [Photography:
The post


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maybe somebody is still checking this forum, so I would like to seize the opportunity and present you my first Trackmania "montage" (UF/NF):
PS. I know the quality isn't the greatest, but while recording I have to change screen resolution from 4:3 to 16:9 (so there is nothing much I can do about it atm).
Although, I hope you will like it Thank you for your time!
Trackmania - Speed Montage
This forum deals with all the Movies & Replays of the Community. Use http://www.tm-tube.com and share your creations here!
Moderator: TM-Patrol
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1


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Tara Wood and Lorecia Goings have brought us Lucius (The Fallen)
via Moon Rose Publishing
Now, as a super fantastic treat, Tara shares her characters with the Blog today! You can't miss this one…
Tara, you know I love your work. Thank you for sharing the world of Lucius with us today. Now you sit back and relax, grab a coffee, put your feet up, and let me do the rest of the work. Mwah!
Give me just a second to rearrange my furniture a bit so everyone fits *glances nervously at all the hawt men sitting in the living room – draped across the sofas and chairs like throw blankets* – Domniel, Jude, Mordecai, Elijah…Lucius – everyone ready? *All smiles and nods from the men*
Let's just jump into the questions, shall we? I know Tara and Lorecia have you all on a busy schedule these days. *laughter* So, every character on the page and off needs flaws – that's what makes them stand out from the rest. But most of the characters in Lucius are physically flawed in some unique ways. Who would you consider to be the most flawed – emotionally?
L: *wry smirk* Anybody care to put out there how you're screwed in the head?
*soft murmurs and furtive glances to the floor*
L: Okaaay… *laughs* I guess I'll start. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that the fall wreaked havoc on us emotionally as well as physically. I came out the least unscathed, I suppose, since there's nothing really physically wrong with me. But what I feel goes so deep, sometimes that turmoil is physically painful. I had a hard time relaxing. I always felt that I had to fight, that I had to do something. The sense of urgency was crippling.
*nods from the rest of the angels*
J: I don't like to be touched.
D: *ugly snort* Understatement of the century, dude.
J: *shrugs it off* It fucking hurts. Pain is the only way my body reacts to touch. It's okay, though. I'm dealing.
D: *snorts again* If you say so.
*awkward silence*
L: I don't know that one of us is more broken than the other. We all had our part to play in how we got here, and the physical punishments are manifestations of the consequences of those actions. There is an emotional tie to the physical. They're connected. And it's something we've never really discussed amongst ourselves. *goes quiet* It's sort of like living it all over again. Losing Heaven wrecked us in different ways. All of them painful.
If the pain between you is equal, surely who you see as a leader isn't? Is there anyone of the group that stands out as the 'leader'?
J, D, M, E: *in unison* Lucius.
E: *signing* It's always been Lucius.
I've got to say I figured as much. There's a certain air of…respect…around Lucius. So, at the end of the day (or night) when things calms down for you all…how do you like to relax?
D: Wild Turkey and hookers.
M: *rolls eyes* Lige and I read a lot.
D: That's all you do. You're boring as shit.
E: *flips Domniel his middle finger* *group laughs*
J: *smiles* I'll take the Turkey. No hookers.
L: I'm beginning to enjoy quiet evenings in with Persephone.
*loud, agonizing groan from group*
L: What? There's more to life than drinking and getting laid.
J: That's real nice, boss. When you find out what that is, you let us know.
Awwww, Lucius just won points with his love, that's for sure! Who has the kinkiest sex fantasy of the group? Yes, you must share it with us.
D: I might have imagined my own harem once. All those nubile female bodies so eager to please. Then again, maybe that's Tuesday.
L: Dom….
D: What? Hey, I kept it clean. You'll notice the big guy over there hasn't piped up. *points to Jude* That motherfucker over there's probably into whips and chains and shit. And the Wonder Twins are a set. Nobody seems to want to talk about that. *jerks head toward Mordecai and Elijah* How many chicks have you seen come between them?
L: Dom…
D: *flashes bright grin* I mean, compared to you guys, I'm the only normal one in the bunch. I just happen to indulge a lot more often than the rest of you. I can't help it the ladies find me exotic and hot. It's the hair. Chicks dig my hair.
*Eyes Jude, Mordecai and Elijah with interest but moves on after being ignored* Gentlemen, if any of you could reverse your roles in Lucius (The Fallen), who would want a change – and why?
J: *eyes downcast* I would rather be any one of you than myself. I wouldn't wish this on anybody.
M: I think I would trade with Lige. *pats Elijah on the shoulder* So I would know what's it's like to be the other part of me.
E: *smiles at Mordecai* *signs for Lucius to translate* Agreed. I would love to switch with Cai. At least then I wouldn't have to listen to all the shit that falls out of Dom's mouth.
*Laughs* Jude, I'm hugging you in my mind, love. Staying on topic (sorta) – Can you tell us what your meaning of 'Love' is, and have you ever been in love?
D: A soft, warm, willing female body. I love that.
*Elijah and Mordecai snort loudly* *Jude and Lucius roll eyes*
L: I think love is different for all of us. I found Persephone. She has a good heart and a beautiful smile. And I love the way she makes me feel. She makes me a better man. That's love.
If love really does conquer all, what challenges have you overcome in the name of love?
L: *grins* Killed some demons, got my wings back.
*group applauds*
*Claps wildly, then composes self* So, describe your definition of 'true love' for us…
L: Persephone.
J: Something that is all-encompassing, that stops your heart, that makes you feel like you can't breathe. Something that lasts forever.
E: *nods in agreement* *gives a thumbs up*
M: The sound of laughter. *Elijah smiles and nudges his shoulder*
D: *sniffs* Doesn't exist. It's a fairytale for chicks.
*group shoots Domniel a sad look*
*Jots down notes to ask Dom more about this at a later time* On the flip-side of love is hate. Tell us more about your relationship with Lucifer.
L: *glares* Next question.
Ok. If you could spend five minutes alone in a room with Lucifer, but you could not touch each other, what would you say to him?
D: *lowers voice to menacing* I believe the man said next question. Let's move on, shall we?
Point taken. Moving on. *wiggles uncomfortably in chair* Tell us more about what's in store for all of you.
L: *with conviction* Doesn't matter. It's in His hands. Whatever path he puts forth, we will follow. We serve Him.
*group nods with sober expressions*
I think I hear Tara calling for your return. She's done sharing you, I'm afraid. Thank you all for joining us today and sharing a little bit more about you. I know I don't speak only for myself when I say that I can't WAIT to see what happens to you next! Much love to you all! *Stands and hugs the men one by one, except for Jude*
Can't wait to read more about these characters?
Buy the Book and follow the Authors online so you will be one of the first to know when the story continues!


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Creative / Design Recruitment Agencies Directory
Jobs in the creative sector contribute nearly 3% of the UK's annual revenue and provide jobs for about 1.5 million people. They are also responsible for roughly one-tenth of the nation's exports. In total, it is estimated that 100,000 businesses contribute to the industry, and many of these are relatively small companies.
Designers today need more than mere artistic aptitude; they are also required to have working knowledge of digital design tools and CAD software. In many cases, formal qualifications are not required, but many institutes do offer courses, degrees, and training programmes that help improve employment outlooks and hone critical skills. For many, apprenticeships can be an excellent way to enter the field of creative art & design, and there are a growing number of paid apprentice opportunities available throughout the United Kingdom.
Salary Expectations
New professionals with limited experience in the industry typically make about £20K per year, while those on the upper end of the salary spectrum earn about £60K. The average income for the field is around £30K per year, but salaries in London tend to be significantly higher, and those in the North East are typically much lower than elsewhere in the country. Today, web design offers a unique opportunity in the industry, as it is one of the rare creative professions experiencing rapid growth.
Press "Search 8000+ Agencies" when your new query is ready.
Most Popular Creative / Design Job Roles
Most Popular Locations for Creative / Design
Do a search and improve your results
Use our quick search to create a personalised list of agencies that recruit for your industry and location.


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Hi Everybody,I am Sandeep - A software engineer by profession,live in Kolkata,India.
I decided to cut this introduction text to go straight to the point.To get an idea of an interests have a skim through the latest posts on my profile(links to few are given below)
If you feel like connecting up then do so. It isn't an obligation but please post a comment or leave a simple hi if you can.
I think it's important that people interact in order to give some real value to social networks.


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Failover Management Portfolio
|1. A group or collection of Failover Items, including any related data and information artifacts, that all combine to form a specific context of relevance which is related to the Discipline known as Failover Management.
Read More
|1) The Semantic Root Noun for this term is: Failover
2) Semantically Related Terms: The "Failover Management Glossary"
3) The Failover Management Home Page covers much more about other related terms and concepts associated with this term or phrase.


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By Evan Ackerman
Infinitec is introducing what they're calling the "next generation" of USB flash drives, the Infinite USB Memory (IUM) drive. Rather than storing data on internal flash memory, the IUM pairs with your computer, forming a wireless data transfer link. So, whatever device you plug the IUM into sees it as simple USB flash drive, while behind the scenes the IUM is streaming data directly from your computer, making available as much data as you care to give it, hence the "infinite" moniker. This isn't some kind of infinite cloud storage thing, however, it's just that the capacity of the IUM isn't limited by the hardware on the IUM itself.
I can't immediately figure out how the wireless bit works, but it's going to be one of two ways. The first, which seems most likely from the way the IUM is described, is that it uses your laptop's wireless card to transfer data. This means that if you're out of range of your laptop's wireless signal, your IUM loses its functionality. The alternative (and I don't think it works this way) would be that it somehow connects to your laptop over the internet, which means that the IUM would function anywhere it could get WiFi access, possibly allowing you to set up secured access points ahead of time.
Whichever way it functions, I wouldn't really think of this as a USB flash drive at all, for the simple reason that you can't use it to back up or transfer data independently of your laptop. It's more of a wireless USB network adapter, in that it gives any USB compatible device access to the data on your laptop via a local (ad-hoc) wireless network. This is definitely a handy capability, although its usefulness is limited to electronics with USB ports but without a network connection that you don't want to plug your computer into directly (although there is something to be said for ease of use, which the IUM certainly appears to offer).
The cost for this convenience is $129, which seems rather steep to me, although (for what it's worth) it's generally equivalent to the Eye-Fi Pro, which offers the same kind of wireless ad-hoc network functionality.
The Infinitec IUM Drive goes on sale July 1.


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Super Carl? Activist Carl Icahn has been racking up some pretty big wins in the past few weeks. Now, add Chesapeake Energy (CHK) to that list.
Chesapeake Energy's stock is up more than 6% Wednesday, following the company's announcement that its controversial CEO and founder Aubrey McClendon would step down immediately and retire on April 1, 2013.
Icahn was a key force behind McClendon's ouster. Early last year, investors discovered that McClendon was bankrolling his lavish lifestyle with more than $1 billion in loans from his company. The SEC has been investigating McClendon's actions.
After taking a stake in the company last year, Icahn successfully pushed for an shakeup of Chesapeake's board. Yesterday, McClendon admitted that his decision stemmed from "certain philosophical differences with the new Board."
The board, in turn, said that McClendon's departure wasn't due to the SEC investigation or his unique "financing arrangements." And Icahn praised McClendon in a press release. "Aubrey has every right to be proud of the company he has built."
Traders on StockTwits were more cynical.
$CHK no conflict of interest found..., anyway that reminded me when Jeff Skilling at Enron retired "to spend more time with his family" $ENE
Hearing chatter that Aubrey McClendon may run the margin department at $JPM $CHK
While Chesapeake's stock popped, some traders expressed continuing concern about just how reliable the company's numbers are.
$CHK Think traders are playing this the wrong way. Don't trust the accounting of this company. This gap higher will be reversed.
That remains to be seen. But for now, Carl Icahn's winning streak is continuing. Icahn owns 10% of Netflix (NFLX). It's up 79% this year. He holds 82% of CVR Energy (CVI), and that's up 18% this year. His 15% stake in Navistar (NAV)? That's up 21.5%in 2013.
And in the past week, Icahn has been publicly pushing the offshore drilling Transocean (RIG) to issue a dividend. Its stock has soared since then, up 29% this year.
Love him or hate him #carlicahn is knocking the socks of #ackman in the making $$department $NFLX $CHK $CVI etc etc. $HLF?
True. It does appear that Icahn has saved up all his ire for his nemesis Bill Ackman. Carl Icahn seemed to land in the win column during his entertaining on-air duel with Ackman on CNBC last week. But it's too early to see which hedge fund manager will be right on Herbalife (HLF).
Speculation over Chesapeake Energy's (CHK) future is sparking chatter about potential suitors for all or part of the embattled natural gas company.
Consider a photo from game two of the NBA finals on June 14. We can't show you the actual photo since it's owned by ESPN, but sitting courtside at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City was none other than Fu Chengyu, the chairman of China's largest oil producer - MOREMaureen Farrell - Jun 21, 2012 12:41 PM ET
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Bipartisan bill's 'blue card' would allow farmers to keep their existing workforce.
The U.S. dairy industry would benefit from the landmark agreement known as the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act" introduced in the U.S. Senate April 17, industry sources say.
"Dairy will be the single biggest winner in agriculture" because the bill offers provisions for a year-round flow of workers and allows employers to keep their existing workforce, says Craig Regelbrugge, co-chairman of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform.
Among the features in the 844-page proposal is a provision that establishes a "blue card" that allows experienced agricultural workers to remain in the U.S.
The proposed bill also ditches the H-2A visa program. In its place, a new agricultural guest-worker visa program would be established to provide a more stable agricultural workforce. Administered by USDA, it would provide growers with a streamlined process to petition for workers while ensuring critical worker protections.
Read the Senate bill here.
While the legislation likely makes mandatory electronic employment verification, or E-Verify, inevitable, it will be phased in over five years, Regelbrugge says. It's expected that agriculture, because of its large size, would be one of the last sectors required to adopt E-Verify. That would give farm and dairy employers time to understand and implement the requirement.
Undocumented farm workers who can demonstrate a minimum of 100 work days or 575 hours in the two years before the legislation is enacted would be eligible for an Agricultural Card. Workers who work at least 100 days a year for five years or workers who perform at least 150 days a year for three years can adjust status to permanent residency. To be eligible for permanent residence, agricultural workers must show that they have paid all taxes, have not been convicted of any serious crime, and pay a $400 fine.
Jerry Kozak, president and CEO with National Milk Producers Federation, says agriculture's work with lawmakers to craft the bill wasn't "merely fixing a broken system, but scrapping an old set of unworkable rules and replacing it with something better."
Negotiations will continue as the Senate debates the proposed legislation. Discussion also will begin in the House. In addition, the House is developing its own immigration reform package.


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The LG Versa from Verizon Wireless is a touch-screen phone with a difference. Promising to be the most versatile phone we've ever seen (hence the "Versa" moniker), it comes with the option of adding external modules to increase its functionality. Out of the box, for example, the Versa comes with an attachable QWERTY keyboard, but if you prefer not to have the extra bulk, just detach it and you can still type with the virtual keyboard on the touch screen. LG plans to have additional modules in the future, such as external speakers and a game pad controller.
Even without the modules, the Versa is a very good touch-screen phone by itself. It has an animated interface, where you can customize up to three home screens. The Versa has a full HTML browser with support for Flash Lite, so you can watch your favorite YouTube clips on the go. Other features include a 2.0-megapixel camera, access to V Cast Video and V Cast Music, EV-DO, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, and more. Though the browsing experience was less than satisfactory and we're not pleased with the lack of Wi-Fi, we're quite impressed with the Versa and with the promise of future modules. The LG Versa is available now for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and a $50 rebate.
By itself, the LG Versa looks almost exactly like the LG Dare. Measuring 4.17 inches long by 2.07 inches wide by 0.54 inch thick, the Versa is slim and sleek, plus the back battery cover has a nice soft touch surface. Like the Dare, it has a large 3-inch-wide touch-screen display on its front face, plus the Call, Clear/Voice command, and End/Power keys. We liked the screen size for the most part, but it does make surfing the full HTML browser less than enjoyable (more on that in the Features section). The Versa is around 3.81 ounces, which won't weigh you down.
The display supports 262,000 colors and 480x240 pixel resolution, which result in vibrant graphics with plenty of detail. You can adjust the backlight time, the menu fonts, the dial fonts, the display theme, the banner, the wallpaper, and even the image of the charging screen (Literally, this is the image that's on the screen while the phone is charging). Instead of just one home screen, you can have up to three (or up to four if you attach a module). You have one home screen for all your application shortcuts, one screen with media shortcuts and Web bookmarks, and another with contact shortcuts (also called Favorites). Do note, however, that you're only limited to these three home screens; you can't create your own home screen that's a mix of different kinds of shortcuts. And as previously mentioned, you get a dedicated screen when using the keyboard module. In order to switch home screens, just swipe at the display and the screen will rotate like a 3D cube. Each home screen has shortcuts to the message in-box, the phone dialer, the main menu, and the phonebook along the bottom row.
Customizing each home screen is pretty easy. There's a gear icon on the right of each home screen; tap that, and you'll be brought to a settings page for that particular home screen. For the Favorites home screen, you can choose a contact from your phonebook; for the Media home screen, you select from the Pictures, Videos, Music, or Bookmarks folder; and for Shortcuts, you pick from the entire list of applications. To remove shortcuts, just select the ones you don't want and then tap the Trash icon. You can have different wallpaper for each home screen as well. The keyboard module home screen is the only one you can't customize. It shows shortcuts to the browser, e-mail, a new text message, the calendar, mobile instant messaging, and the notepad.
The Versa's touch screen provides tactile feedback. There's a calibration wizard for adjusting the screen's sensitivity to your liking, and you can alter the vibrate type (short, double, or long), the vibrate level (low, medium, high, or off), and the accompanying sound effect. You can choose from four sound effects, plus a silent option.
The touch interface was pretty responsive on the whole, but we still had problems in certain applications. For example, in the browser we had to tap at the menu 8 or 10 times before it would pop up. This is perplexing, since the touch screen is much more responsive when navigating the interface and when dialing and texting.
Speaking of dialing, the phone dialer interface consists of the standard numeric keypad plus a speakerphone button, a voice command button, a Clear button, and links to the recent calls list and the contacts list. When you're done dialing, you can hit either the green Call button, the physical Talk button, or bring up a menu of additional options (like adding a 2-second pause, or to start a new text message). You can also hit the Save button for saving a new number to the phonebook.
The Versa has a built-in accelerometer that will rotate the display 90 degrees in either direction when the phone is held horizontally. This works with all applications and menu interfaces except for the home screens; for that, you'll need the keyboard module.
If you're a frequent texter with a need for a QWERTY keyboard, you're in luck. The Versa comes with a bonus QWERTY keyboard module right in the box. Just remove the battery cover and align the keyboard contact pins with those along the right side of the phone. We didn't like that you had to remove the battery cover in order to add the module.
Clad on all sides in faux leather, the keyboard attachment looks like it belongs in an executive's attache case. We're OK with the design, but it might not appeal to some people. The module acts like a case, and has cutouts for the camera on the back. On the front is an external monochrome 0.94-inch OLED display with date, time, signal and battery strength, plus caller ID information. There are also two call buttons underneath that. The Versa is about an inch thicker with the module attached and is about half an ounce heavier.
When the keyboard module is attached to the Versa, not only will you have access to the aforementioned keyboard module home screen, but the display's orientation switches to landscape mode automatically when you're holding the phone horizontally. The keyboard itself is a pleasure to use with a roomy design and tactile keys. There's a dedicated alias (@) key that doubles as a .com key, a dedicated speakerphone key, and arrow keys for navigation. There are number keys along the top of the keyboard, and a button for typing symbols. To remove the module, just slide the lock mechanism on the left side of the Versa.
If you decide not to use the keyboard module, the Versa has several other ways of entering text via the touch screen. You can use either the virtual T9 keypad, handwriting recognition, or the virtual QWERTY keyboard. In order to use the keyboard, just rotate your phone 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction and the QWERTY keyboard will appear. Tapping each key will magnify that key momentarily. There are dedicated alias (@), .com, comma, and period keys, plus arrow keys for navigation and a Shift key for capital letters. You can also switch to a numbers and symbols keyboard by hitting the abc/123 key. You can copy and paste text, but you won't get an autocorrect feature. At the end of the day, however, the physical keyboard is much easier to use than the virtual keyboards.
The handwriting recognition works like the graffiti method--just write as you normally would and it will convert your scribbling into text. Yet, it's not smart enough to identify numbers from letters, and uppercase letters from lowercase---we had to keep switching between the different modes instead. We recommend using the included stylus as writing with our finger resulted in a lot of mistakes.


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5 Productivity Hacks for the Startup CEO
Startups are all about speed, efficiency, and maniacal focus. It's exactly this breakneck pace and agility that enables them to beat large corporations at their own game. The startup CEO must also embody this speed and efficiency while managing exponential growth and, very often, the pains that come with it.
While a startup can grow from two to 100 employees and one to one million users, its CEO remains with just 24 hours a day to manage it all. That can be daunting, overwhelming, and exhausting if you lose focus. To stay on top, here are five simple, yet very powerful, productivity hacks.
1. Focus on Three Priorities a Day
Before you start the day — at the office, home or on the road — jot down three important tasks that you must finish that day at any cost. No more, no less. Just three. Of course, you may have to work on ten other things and stop to put out fires, but identifying and planning your entire day around these priorities enables you to maintain focus and keep critical tasks from getting lost in the fray.
2. Leave 10 Minutes for Email
Continuous access to an avalanche of emails can make you feel obligated to frequently check your email. But few emails require immediate attention, and taming the email beast can be a tremendous drain on productivity. Instead, set aside 10 minutes each hour to check and reply to emails. There is no need to write long dissertations with thoughtfully articulated openings and endings. You are busy and so is the next person. Keep it short. When necessary, handle critical issues that demand immediate attention with internal chat.
3. Make 20-Minute Meetings the Norm
As your team and responsibility grows, so can the number of meetings that sap your productivity, and that of your team. Every discussion does not require a 60-minute session. In fact, probably 95% of these conversations can be handled in 20 minutes or less. But you have to set appropriate expectations. Start by changing the default meeting length in your calendar tool to 20 minutes. In the long term, this will improve the overall efficiency and clarity of your communication, and encourage the entire team to communicate more quickly and with fewer words.
4. Give Yourself a 30-Minute Head Start
A CEO should be three steps ahead of the competition, two steps ahead of investors/partners, and a step ahead of other team members. An easy way to stay ahead is to start ahead. Begin your day 30 minutes before your stakeholders. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to be in the office 30 minutes before everyone. The idea is to anticipate issues and tasks before anyone else and get a jump on them early in the day. Also, before leaving the office each day, plan for things you know will need to be handled the next day. Perhaps even drop an email to your team so that it's waiting in their inbox the next morning.
5. Have a 40-Minute Chill Out
Hacks or no hacks, managing time is a challenging task and it can wear you down quickly. Be smart about productivity and don't adhere to the theory of "just work hard" no matter what the cost. You must make time to clear your head, focus your thoughts, and relax. Otherwise, you'll burn out. Step away for about 40 minutes every five hours to re-energize and regain your focus. Lunch with the team is a great way to relax, yet utilize the time toward achieving a greater goal. Casual lunch conversations will help take your mind off work while building a great relationship with colleagues.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, andrearoad